With Turkey Tailgate Concert, Western Illinois Longspurs tackles new ways to attract NWTF backers

Knoxville, Ill. — The Western Illinois Longspurs Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is expanding its fundraising efforts this summer with the inaugural Turkey Tailgate Concert, bringing together country music fans, hunters, and conservation supporters at Big Catz BBQ in Knoxville.

Knoxville, which is part of Knox County, is about 6 miles southeast of Galesburg.

Country music artist and avid turkey hunter Jon Langston will headline the event with special guest Tyson Schulte, another passionate turkey hunter who grew up less than an hour from Knoxville. Schulte is also familiar to NWTF members after performing at the Watering Hole during the 2026 NWTF Convention and Sport Show.

“We’ve been trying to evolve with the latest trends in fundraising events,” said Jordan Lieber, president of the NWTF Western Illinois Longspurs Chapter. “Last year we included a music event after our gun bash with Tyson Schulte, and it was well received. This year we decided to market to more than just our traditional crowd. We are hoping to get a big crowd and share the NWTF’s mission with some new people as well as our loyal followers.”

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The concert also highlights how local NWTF chapters continue finding new ways to engage their communities while supporting conservation. By welcoming longtime members and first-time attendees, the Western Illinois Longspurs Chapter hopes to introduce more people to the work being done through the NWTF to conserve the wild turkey.

Proceeds from the Turkey Tailgate Concert will support the NWTF’s Roots to Roost Initiative across the Midwest. The groundbreaking, cross-boundary conservation effort restores and enhances critical wildlife habitat while expanding conservation, education, and policy efforts to strengthen wild turkey populations and the diverse ecosystems they depend on.

Tickets range from $60 general admission to $250 VIP packages, which include meet-and-greet opportunities. Tickets and information are available at events.nwtf.org/EVT-21269/tickets.